Page 8 - Boca Exposure - June '21

Page 8, Boca Exposure
Dining Out:

Much More Than A Pit!

By Alan Serinsky of Bocaire Next on the appetizer tasting, we enjoyed a Spinach As for you lamb chop lovers, these Australian cuts are
Country Club. Hungry Al’s love Pie that looks nothing like a “pie.” Rather than a slice, perfectly grilled with a brush of olive oil. You will think
for food started very young. you get a pretzel-shaped phyllo crust that engulfs a you’re in Athens overlooking the Pantheon.
Never satisfied with his Mom’s cheesy spinach interior. I happened to like their version
dishes, he started to cook his and would definitely order it again. From the dessert tray: When it came to the
way through her Betty Crocker Our table companions, veterans of this restaurant, desserts I wasn’t overly impressed. We were delivered
Cookbook. During the years suggested the Zucchini Croquettes ($6), and sadly these a complimentary sample plate, and besides the price it
to follow he spend many hours so-called vegetable fritters didn’t pack the flavor I was was like a Trojan horse. Looks good on the outside and
working in restaurants, both as server and cook, attending expecting. I was reassured that the Grilled Octopus surprised by the inside. The Greek cookies, a variation
cooking classes and traveling the world in an effort to ($15) was amazing, but for me after watching the movie of Italian wedding cookies, were nicely powdered, but
expand his palette. As a professional writer, Hungry Al My Octopus Teacher, I’m struggling with ordering any lacked the almond sweetness within the casing.
offers his perspective on current food trends and guides octopus dish ever again. Their signature Greek Orange Cake ($5) at first
you through your local restaurant options. Now for the main event of any Greek restaurant … seemed to be the front-runner, but the overpowering use
the Greek Salad ($11). Having spent months throughout of sugar and orange zest didn’t make the finish line. As
Oliv Pit the Greek Islands, I can testify with some expertise about for the best barometer of any Greek dessert, the traditional
6006 S.W. 18th Street the quality of this salad. For me, it’s the tomatoes and Baklava was disappointing. The crisp baked phyllo crust
Boca Raton, FL 33342 the quality of olive oil. The “Pit” delivered an excellent lacked luster in taste and was soft in consistency.
(561) 409-2049 salad with nice ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, purple
onions and kalamata olives that would make Goddess Check please: Having endured the pandemic, you
Food for thought: There were several variables at Demeter very happy! have to imagine for any restaurateur, especially a small
play even before I walked through the doors of this old, operation, to win this economic battle you have to be
but new, Greek bistro. First, I’ve been here before. It was Straight from the kitchen: As for our own goddesses like a Spartan warrior. Fortunately, the Oliv Pit was able
a quick lunch stop for Hungry Al (that’s me) and Hungry at the table, they decided on the Grilled Whole Branzino to overcome its Achilles heel and forge ahead when so
D. A simple Greek salad and a site survey was all that ($32). Smart choice on their part. The presentation was many were defeated. For that alone, I must allow for some
was needed. The staff was sterile, the salad was basic, simple but inviting. Perfect grilled marks resonate the inconsistencies and remember that for all of us it takes
and the wine list was limited. The jury was out whether I wood char flavors before the first bite. The pool of lemon an Olympic winner to pass a very tough year.
would return for another look, but all that changed when citrus vinaigrette and capers lying beneath this mild-tasting I look forward and hope that all small restaurants,
we received an invite to come back for dinner. swimmer received accolades from our whole table. much like the Oliv Pit, continue to deliver true authentic
Doing a review on the recommendation of others is Also shared by all was the Beef and Lamb Gyro ($9). global cuisine for a long time. With that in mind,
sometimes like walking on eggshells. You’re not sure if This colossal pita wrap would feed a Greek army starving the Hungry Squad gives
you’ll be throwing plates in disappointment or sipping at sea for days. Sliced thin off the pressed lamb rotisserie, the Oliv Pit three gold
ouzo in celebration. But the bottom line is, no review is it was joined with those beautiful ripe tomatoes, lettuce, Olympic medals.
worth losing friends. onions and that special sauce.
Finally, my practice of reading reviews prior to any
visit sometimes places unpredictable expectations on my
evaluations. Contrary reviews like: “I’ll never go back,”
or it’s “the best Greek food since my visit to Mykonos,”
leaves you with an ambiguous situation. Regardless,
I forged ahead with a strong appetite and a positive
disposition like any Greek warrior.

First impressions: The Oliv Pit is like any small
mom and pop restaurant operation. The footprint of the
store is limited in seating, the décor is modern Greek,
the kitchen is wide open, and the staff eager to please.
Thankfully, like all restaurants in the time of COVID-19,
they also adapted to outside dining and a take-out menu.
The good news is, there was a change of ownership since
my previous lunch outing.
What you can expect from the Oliv Pit is a family-run
business with the matriarch and patriarch of the kitchen,
Anna and Tommy, handling the heat off the grill, and
their son, Evan, managing a very small waitstaff. There
is something so authentic and gratifying when you see
family members working tirelessly to manage a difficult
and demanding food business. Much like gladiators, I can
imagine they continuously move forward enduring the
new onslaught of uncaged hungry diners seeking freedom
from their home kitchens. Good for them … and glad it’s
not me!

Prime your taste buds: Like at any Greek diner the Stylish Modern Atmosphere Make Reservations happy hour
choices are plenty, and sometimes I would be happy to every Day 3 - 6 pm
just settle for a salad and a couple of appetizers. But here
at the “Pit” it’s going to be hard to resist some of your and Mon. - Thurs.
favorite Greek foods that you know could easily come all Day at Bar Only
straight from a family recipe book.
As a table we started with the tried and true hummus Lunch SpeciaLS
with pita bread ($6). Oliv Pit’s hummus is made from fava
beans. Traditionally, I’ve been accustomed to hummus every Day
being prepared with chickpeas and that may be the reason $
for the thin consistency of this spread. Regardless, I would starting at 9
be happy with any topper on grilled pita bread.

Sunday, June 20th